Rickard Named PD of WFNZ/Charlotte

• Radio One Sports-Talk WFNZ (610AM/92.7FM)/Charlotte welcomes major market veteran Jeff Rickard as its new Program Director.

Rickard (left) was most recently Brand Manager of Audacy Sports-Talk WEEI/Boston, and earlier spent seven years as PD/Morning host for Emmis Sports outlet WFNI (93.5 & 107.5 The Fan)/Indianapolis. Rickard previously spent nearly a decade in New England as host of ESPN Radio’s Gamenight, and later, as the managing editor/anchor of the Boston-based Out of Bounds Latenight on the Comcast Network. After a five-year stint programming KFNZ/Salt Lake City Rickard hosted his own show for Sporting News Radio. Rickard has served as the host of NFL Radio’s The Sunday Kickoff for the past five seasons and is also the host of College Football Overtime on ESPNU.

“We are committed to making sports radio even bigger in Charlotte, adding the 92.7 FM signal in March was just the beginning of that commitment,” said Marsha Landess, Radio One Regional VP. “Having a successful veteran like Jeff Rickard join our team will help take us to the level that a passionate sports city like Charlotte deserves. Jeff brings to WFNZ extensive sports experience, talent, drive, and a passion for success. He will be a great complement to our incredibly talented local Charlotte on-air team. After our first conversation I knew he was the one to take us to the next level. As the flagship station for the Charlotte Hornets as well as Charlotte FC we are looking forward to an incredibly successful future with Jeff leading the charge.”

Rickard noted, “I had been planning on taking a professional sabbatical this year, but after meeting with Marsha Landess and learning more about Radio One, I began to get more excited to get back to work. Radio One as a company, combined with Marsha’s leadership and the potential for WFNZ, was just too appealing to not be a part of. I’m extremely grateful to Radio One for this opportunity and can’t wait to start working with the talented staff in Charlotte. My family and I are all in on this situation and can’t wait to get started on this new chapter.”